Mayrhofen holidays

There's a weekly farmers market that runs throughout the summer between 9am and 1pm, but you can also pick up some bargain local produce straight from the source at the open farms in the valley.

Mayrhofen has a long stretch of high street with an array of casual clothing and souvenir shops, traditional Austrian-dress shops, specialist food merchants and sports shops selling well-known activewear brands. So if you’re in the mood to treat yourself, you’ll have plenty of choice.

The town is very picturesque and is a wonderful place to go for a gentle evening stroll as the sun goes down, ideally with an ice-cream in hand.

Mayrhofen is a big party town in the winter, but that gets toned right down in the summer months. There’s still a shadow of its alter-ego in that there are plenty of bars to choose from, as well as the occasional spot of live music.

There are great restaurants and cafés on every corner in Mayrhofen. Just make sure to try some Zillertaler krapfen (savoury crêpes), and make it your mission to find the best apple strudel in the region.

As well as being a traditional butcher's, Gasser, on Hauptstrasse, is the ideal place for a takeaway lunch. The owner, Hans, prepares a variety of delicious dishes from schnitzel bread to ribs.

A short walk down the road is the popular Café Tyrol, a Tyrolean steakhouse serving steaks and the local speciality, tiroler gröstl. The outdoor terrace and salad bar keep customers coming back again and again.

Over at the Zillergründl Dam, Adlerblick’s outdoor terrace overlooks the reservoir and dam, so it's a must if you're after great views. To enter, you have to walk up a metal stairway, but there's also an alternative roadway entrance. Alongside the portion sizes and atmosphere, Adlerblick is also known for its amazing heisse liebe dessert.

The main bus station is located next to the train station. The extensive and regular bus service links Mayrhofen to the surrounding valleys, so once you've hopped on a bus it won't be long until you're in the Tux valley, Finkenberg, or at the Zillergrund Reservoir.

Both the Ahorn and the Penkenbahn cable cars are open throughout the summer, giving you access to the best views of the Ziller Valley. The Penkenbahn will be open from May until mid-October, running from 9am - 5pm. The Ahorn will be open from June until mid-October, running from 8.30am - 5pm.

Mayrhofen station is situated next to the Hotel Neuhaus and operates regular train and steam train services to Jenbach. They both stop at several towns in the Ziller Valley along the way. The steam train runs once a day in the early afternoon, and takes an hour and a half to reach Jenbach.

This small, attractive town has lots of shops and eateries, and can be explored on foot in no time.

Nestled in the Ziller Valley, Mayrhofen is at the centre of over 200km of walking trails. Many of these wind through the Zillertal Alps Nature Park, perfect if you're looking for peace and seclusion. You can also stroll along the Ziller River promenade or take the local bus to Zillergrund and spend the day rambling through remote valleys. There are plenty of summer lifts which ascend directly from Mayrhofen, such as the Ahorn and Penken lifts – so you can soar over Alpine meadows, dotted with flora and mountain cows, and get access to gentle panorama trails with incredible views of the four valleys.

This walk has it all – meadows, woodland and breathtaking views, plus places to stop for refreshment along the way. From Mayrhofen, catch the local bus to the small mountain village of Branberg and then follow the signposted route 50. Stop at the Steinekogl hut to take in the stunning views from the veranda and then carry on through fields and woods, surrounded by towering mountains – just don’t forget you camera.

The Stilluptal is a beautiful alpine valley hidden among some of the highest peaks in the Zillertal. Catch the minibus to the Grüne Wand Hutte and it’s all downhill from there – in a good way of course. Walk down past cascading waterfalls, wander through pastures filled with cattle and finally come to the sparkling blue Stillup reservoir, which owes its bright colour to the sunlight reflecting off glacial sediment in the water – amazing views and variety for very little effort.